Finding the right filtration media

Aquariums come in a variety of shapes and sizes and it should come as no surprise to you that people like to have the ability to customize the filtration that best meets their needs. Hang-on-back filters can be modified by changing the kind of filtration media within it, which can help you get the results you need. 

Today, we’re going to talk about a few of the different kinds of filtration media you should use, with the hope that the decision as to which one you should use comes into a little bit clearer focus. 

Mechanical filter media

Mechanical filter media is a category of filtration media that consists of sponges, foam pads and filter floss that help strain out debris from the water. In a way, think of them a little bit like a coffee filter. One of their advantages is that much of the debris will get caught up in their pores and can be rung out in old water and reused again. They don’t clog up quickly so you won’t have to worry about constantly cleaning them.

The other big advantage of this kind of filtration media is that you can buy plenty of it and cut it down to a size that meets your needs. It provides a whole range of flexible options to choose from. 

Biological filtration media

Hey, bio balls! We know those! Bio balls and other biological filtration media essentially help grow beneficial bacteria on their coarse, intricately patterned surfaces, basically serving as a home for bacteria that will help clean your tank. 

Even better, the shape of this kind of media will allow water to flow freely through them and bring more oxygen to the bacteria. You will need to clean them however, as gunk tends to build up over time. We also don’t recommend that you leave the media loose – buy a filtration media bag to keep them all in one place. 

Chemical filter media

Chemicals pretty much do exactly what you’d think they’d do – which is remove pollutants and certain chemicals from the water. Carbon is used frequently to deal with things like medications, tannins and other impurities. They come in loose granules that’ll need to be kept in a bag. We’ve always preferred to use carbon-infused media pads because they’re easier to handle and like mechanical filtration media, can be cut down to size to best meet your needs. 

The only word of caution is that chemical filter media often has specific uses, so be sure of what problem you’re looking to solve when you purchase them. 

Hopefully you found today’s blog helpful. If you’d like to learn more about what kind of filtration media might be best for you – give us a call today and we’ll be happy to provide you with a free consultation. Until then – good luck!